Faucet for measuring, mixing, and dispensing beverages



July 14, 1953 J. H. DoNNELLY 2,645,380

FAucE'r Foa umsuamc, MIXING, AND nrspsnsmc BEvERAGEs Filed Oct. 20. 1948A 2 Shaets-Sheeil l bww/@WW July 14. 1953 J. H. DoNNELLY 645,380

FAUcE'r FOR MEASURING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES Filed oct. 2o,1948 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. .falaz H. armelg Patented `ul'y 14, 1953Ivn'icli'r Foa MEA'sUaING, MIXING, AND

i DISPENSING John Donnelly, New York, `Ygassignor to Canada Dry GingerAle, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a ccorporationofpelaware Application October 20, V1948,Serial No. 55,488

The present invention .relates to combined.

mixing and measuring faucetfor use in dispensing carbonated beveragesorzthe like,l and aims to provide certain improvements therein. I

Prior devicesof the.` type specified have been costly and complicatedinconstruction, have been diflicult to take apart for cleansing purposesand then reassemble, and `lacked many other desirable qualities that adispensingrfaucet should have. i i

Accordingly, my invention has among its Vobjects (l) to provide afaucetwhich will be simple in construction and adapted to be taken apartfor cleansing purposes and reassembled without the aid of special toolsor special mechanical skill; (2) to provide a faucet of the typespecified by means of which carbonated water and a flavoring liquid canbe dispensed in denite proportions regardless of the volume of the drinkto be served; (3) to provide such faucet which will thoroughly mix thecarbonated water and fiavoring liquid prior to discharge and thuseliminate the need for stirring the prepared drink; (4) to provide suchfaucet in which afterdrip from the faucet is eliminated; (5)".to providesuch faucet, which by a slight movement of the operating handle,flavoring liquid only may be dispensedY for sundaes, toppings, etc.; and`(6) to provide such faucet which will have none of its operative partsexposed to contaminating influences.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention not specificallyenumerated I accomplish by providing a dispensing faucet in whichcontrol valves for the flavoring liquid and the carbonated Water aremounted in coaxial relation and are operable in sequence by a singledraft arm so as to be substantially simultaneously operable; Wherein byvirtue of said sequential operation, flavoring liquid only may bedispensed, if desired; wherein a i'lavoring liquid chamber Vis providedwhichis adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of ilavoring liquidnecessary to produce a predetermined volume of carbonated beverage ofuniform composition; wherein thepassages are calibrated for dispensingthe flavoring liquid and the carbonated Water in definite proportionswhen a drink of smaller volume is to be prepared; wherein the faucet isso constructed that the predetermined quantities of 4ilavoring liquidand carbonated water are'thoroughly mixedlbefore 'dis'- charge into thecontainer from which the bever# age is to be consumed; and wherein thecon-- stituent elements of the faucet are mounted in coaxial relation tofacilitate disassembly of the parts for cleansing purposes andreassembly.A

without the` need for any special tools or mechanical skill. Theinvention also embodies other features of novelty and combination ofparts all of which willbe better understood from the detaileddescription which follows, when considered in connection ,witht theaccompanying drawings,

` wherein: i

, mounted in position `on afountain support,` the upper portion of saidfigure being` a section taken along the plane of the line I-l of Fig. 2.

Fig` 2 is a transverse section taken substantially along` the plane ofthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

l` Fig53 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isfa section taken substantially along the plane of the line4-4.of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a detail of the inven4 tion.

Referring to the drawings, the mixing, and measuring faucet isdesignated as a whole by the reference numeral Ill and may be saidtocomprise a housing consisting of ahead member Il,

a ilavoring liquid chamber providing member I2 and a spout member I3,said members being of generally cylindrical form and detachablyconnectedtogether in coaxial relation. The faucet may be supported inany preferred manner and The head member Il is formed with an axial boretherethrough of different diameters Il, I8 and i9, there being providedan internal flange 2l] between the bores I'land I8, the upper surface ofsaid flange -constituting a valve seat for a check valve 2| which isnormally -held upon said seat by a spring 22 bearing at one end againstthe 'valve-body and at its other end against a shoulder within a closureplug 23 which is screwthreaded into the bore Il; The check valve 2| alsohas a pin 24 extending through theopening provided by the flange 20 fora purpose which will be' presently` described. Extending radiallythrough the head member Il is a duct 25 terminating at its inner end inthe valve chamber provided bythe bore Il and being enlarged andscrew-,threaded at its outer end, as indicated at 26, for accommodatinga coupling nipple such as 2l to` which is connecteda conduit 28 throughTENTFFICE@ amuse Y liquid from the reservoir I6 isV supplied to thefaucet. Dependingly supported by the head member I I by means of ascrew-threaded connec-V tion in the bore I8 is a cylindrical tube 3lwhich extends through the chamber-providing. member.

I2 and into the spout member I3, theflowerfexe ternal Vdiameter of thetube being of reduced diameter as shown at 3Ia, for a purposepresentlyto be described.

The chamber-providing member 'I2' at its upper end v'is formed with areduced externally:v

screw-threaded portion 32 for accommodating" a locking ring 33, by meansof which the headl member II is connected to the member I2. Y Forfaeilitatingsaid connection, the member II has a flange34` and a pilotendr35. Themember I2 basan-enlarged bore 3'6, a-reducedvbore 31 and ashoulder or base 36a'therebetween,rthe diameter ofthe bore 31beingexactly the same as that ofathe bore I9. in thev head member I2, for apurpose which will presently appear. At its lowerend the member I2y isformed with a reduced, externally screw-threaded portionr 38 and aninternally rabbeted groove-39 for accommodatingthe pilot. end of. aconnectingsleeve 40 screw-threadedly carried by the spout member I3..and through which connecting sleeve the spoutLmember is detachably heldto the chamberproviding member I2' through a locking ring 4I.

The spout member I3. is of generally hollow, cylindrical form having acylindrical bore 42 terminating at itslower end in a conical seat 43,V

andonits exterior is formed with an enlargement 44 providing a bearingfor an oscillatable f stub shaft 45 carriedv by an operating handle ordraft; arm 46. The shaft 45VV is formed with a tooth- 4.1 projectinginto the bore.42and adapted.

for limited. angular movement around the axis off-the shaft 45, for apurpose which will presently. The shaft 45, may be suitably helddiameter ofjthe, boresrIQ, 3,1 and 42 and an in'-v ternal diameter equalto the fullexternal diameter-ofthe; hollow tube 3|.` Thek sleeve 5Iintermediate. its ends is cut away to provider arcuatel slotsV 52 and isformed With an external annular rOOVe 53 in` proximity to its lower end,and with aligned'radial holes 5.4l in still closer proximity to saidend. The sleeve I is mounted soy as to constitute a slide valve for.controlling the- 'ingress` and egress oiflavoring liquid to and from`thechamber provided by the'bore 36 and basev 36d; of the member I2 andismanually operablev bythe handle 46 by Vvirtue of the tooth 41 on theoperating handle shaft; 45` engaging within the annular groovev 53.Thesleeve 5I is normally held in its lowermost positionby a helicalspr-ing- 55i one; end of which` bears against a shoulder provided'by theunder side ofthe flange 20 and the'other end bears. against an abutmentsuch asza nut 56 threaded on a stem 51, the lower end'v of `whichcarries a cross-pin 58 which engagesinthe aligned` radial holes 54:.VIfy desired, a valve Y 59. may. be mounted .atpthe lowerfend ofthestom` 51 for seating against the conical seat 43 in the spout member.Mounted at the top of the stem 51 is a mushroom shaped head 6I having anaxial recess 62 into which slidably ts the pin 5 24 of the check valve2l, the depth of said recess being such that the lower end of the pin 24l Willbe, engaged and nvioved-to.` unseat; the valve after` apredetermined amount of movement of the stem 51. Of course, the extentof upward movement of the stem 51 should be sufficient to causeengagementv of the head 6I with the ange 20, and. such movement may belimited by engagement of the head 2 Ia, of check valve 2| with theclosure plug 23.v

The sleevegSI-inL its normal position has its top below the bottom ofthe bore I9 in the member I-I audits arcuate, slots 52 below the bottomwall 36aV in member I2. In said position it will be apparent thatavoring liquid from the reservoir I6 may enter through the coupling'nipple 29u=,'andfbore.I39 :intozthe chamber defined by the bore-i thee.externaliwall, of: the. sleeve 5I and. the.. base.- :16min the. memberI;2. and. iill said volume. Aszthel operating.v handlek is .movedupwardlyf-it.V moves; the sleeve-,- 51| upwardly so thatthatopaportion,thereof snugly engagesjJinto the. annular.space-.f-.between the bore;v |59. and, thaexf teriorfwalliof theupper;pcrticnothe hollow tube 3j.; closing: offzt admission; of.-vflax/.orilla liquid into the chamber and'at the same time bringinggthe,arcuate slots-.5:2 atreve.therbaseV 3.611.l ofthe charnber, .thusiperm'.tipe-fthe egressorftheliquid'from Said.; Chamberlthroughz SeidV slotsdown past thev .etvteeathaexteriorsurface 3m: y c edzdimeter@othehollowtube 3I and the internalahore; orf thez-Sleeve1 5.4iinto the spout member;V Breferabl th check valve-2l isso relate.tstthestem cti-,the f1a-v.o1riirig.I lieu.

.; discharge: valve. 5.2,. a1.'-

eratrig handle Sa-.thatthnemng- Of-.saidvalves may .be- Cerisidered. to;be;y Substantially simu1 only iiaveringfliquidmaybev dispensed. i@ use01.1. Sundaes, fenensi-..etc-bycontrolling th zurzward movementcfthe-Operating handle f-soffasnotitaunseat thevalve 2l..

In disp?` in ayored. drinksrat-av fountain it is.highly-dableethattheresulting beveragebe off-uniform` s tnengthy,especiallyl so.where.Y a well lenownvladyeiztised; brand'oi beverage is beingV sodispensed.; A c ordinglytdt.isessent-ial that. the discharge rateeef;fewof-,the flavoring liquid to thecarzbonated water should1'tal:e.-place in ra definite fp roport-ion` With-the faucet of A thepresent inventiomthis is', accomplished `by CalibratingA the annular;-Spaco5belgi.veen4 the external; surface Sla` o fthe, tub,e.= 3.,I-..and; they.internal.y surface of the sleeve. 5 Lto; beata. definiterelation tothe size of the,duct.25,I inrthefheadsmember LI. and thepressure. usually. employed in.,v supplying the, car# bonatedwaterthe.faucet. ByhavingL the fla-- vering.l liquid dispensed from. thechamber I2 whichisprelled. the flow4 rate of said Havering, liquidgfrom:said: chamber. will be. substantially unjfgrm. as'. it is.,Y notdependent uponv the gravity. head .offthe-v; avoringgliquid; in itsreservoir. I 6, the@height.. ofgwhich.; willv vary considerably-1 de-Pllfll gffupo the quantity. ofz-fiavor-ine liquid thrru As,gthe;lastremainineinorton of avor-v ing liquids drame from the chamberI2 therev wuuldpbegl altendencyafor such liquid` toY be held by.=`.capillary action@ in. the annular space betgaopn afterthe openingH It. WL be: appreciated@ however.. that.

tween the external surface 31a of tube 3l and the internal surface ofthe sleeve 5l, but such tendency is overcome by the venturi effectcreated by the carbonated water issuing from the discharge end of thetube 3|.

By referring to Fig. l of the drawings it Will be noted that thedischarge ends of the tubes through which the iiavoring liquid and thecarbonated Water enter the spout member are above the discharge end ofthe spout and also that when the valve 59 is open, the upper conicalsurface 59a thereof will act as an abutment against which thedischarging liquids will impinge prior to passing out of the faucet. Inview f the charged condition of the water, a thorough mixing of thewater and avoring liquid will thus take place within the spout member ofthe faucet prior to discharge. The volumetric capacity of the chamber inthe member l2 also bears a definite relation to the rate of flow of thecarbonated water suchthat the complete emptying of said chamber in thedrawing of a beverage will be in accordance with the predeterminedproportion of the flow of the liquids from the faucet.

The ilavoring liquid may be supplied by gravity or by pressure fed tothe faucet through the conduit 30 and is preferably pre-cooled prior toadmission to the faucet. The carbonated water should likewise bepre-cooled and supplied to the faucet under pressure. Where gravity feedof the flavoring liquid to the chamber is relied upon, it is apparentthat the liquid will not flow into or out of said chamber unless an airvent is provided through which air may leave the chamber as liquidenters the same, and vice versa. Accordingly, the faucet is herein shownas provided with a vent passage 65 extending through the head member Iland leading through a conduit B2i to the top of the fiavoring liquidreservoir I6 which is open to atmospheric pressure.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be appreciated that theconstruction and operation of my improved faucet is-simple and that itmay be taken apart and reassembled without the aid of special tools ormechanical skill, for example, by merely disconnecting the nipples 21and 29 and unscrewing the locking rings 33 and 4|, the complete faucetmay be disassembled for cleansing purposes. In the alternative, thefaucet 5 may be thoroughly cleansed by merely disconnecting the couplingnipple 29a and connecting to the faucet a hose leading from a hot waterline which will serve to thoroughly wash out the faucet.

Although I have shown and described a prefered embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction of the faucet may be made Within the range .of mechanicaland engineering skill without departing from the spirit of my inventionas defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stationary beverage dispensing device comprising a housing havingtherein a chamber providing a substantially fixed hydrostatic pressurefor flavoring liquid, said chamber having an inlet passage and an outletpassage, a slide valve within the housing movable to substantiallysimultaneously open one of said passages :and close the other of saidpassages, a duct for carbonated water concentrically disposed inrelation to the chamber, a normally closed spring-seated valvecontrolling said duct, said slide valve and springseated control valvebeing concentrically disposed, a discharge spout below both said chamberand said duct, and a single means for operating said valves.

2. A stationary beverage dispensing device comprising a housing havingtherein a flavoring liquid chamber having an inlet Vand outlet Dassage,a slide valve Within the housing movable to substantially simultaneouslyopen one of said passages and close the other of said passages, a ductfor carbonated water concentrically disposed in relation to the chamber,a normally closed spring-seated valve controlling said duct, said slidevalve and spring-seated control valve being concentrically disposed, adischarge spout below both said chamber and said duct, and means forsubstantially simultaneously operating said valves.

JOHN H. DONNELLY.V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 925,436 Kenly June 15, 1909 963,530 Dosterschill July 5, 19101,140,888 Eckersley Mayl 25, 1925 2,308,408 Wall Jan. 12, 1943

